Compartmentalized connexin 43 s-nitrosylation/denitrosylation regulates heterocellular communication in the vessel wall.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether S-nitrosylation of connexins (Cxs) modulates gap junction communication between endothelium and smooth muscle.

Methods and results

Heterocellular communication is essential for endothelium control of smooth muscle constriction; however, the exact mechanism governing this action remains unknown. Cxs and NO have been implicated in regulating heterocellular communication in the vessel wall. The myoendothelial junction serves as a conduit to facilitate gap junction communication between endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells within the resistance vasculature. By using isolated vessels and a vascular cell coculture, we found that Cx43 is constitutively S-nitrosylated on cysteine 271 because of active endothelial NO synthase compartmental

SUBMITTER: Straub AC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3056333 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature